Kirk's response is clear and to the point. If you had a skip step on your third approach step wouldn't you just work to eliminate that? The fact that you already know that throwing your head back is a problem suggests you shouldn't. The only suggestion I could really offer is remember that inverting comes from a good take off whereby your body is extended, hands high with trail leg back in a position to whip. Inverting in the pole vault is not like doing a back flip where the body follows the head. Think of it more like dropping your shoulders and not your head very similar to swinging on a playground swing. And, if you've ever done this, think able how somewhat disoriented you become putting your head back while swinging.

Short approach straight pole jumps at a controlled run approach and many repetitions will allow you to correct the head throwing. You can use a benchmark behind the landing pad as a focal point in the takeoff. As your feet swing up to the top of the pole, you can look to your top hand.

Demi Payne throws her head to cover the pole and so does Sam Kendricks. it is not recommended, but some great jumpers have had success and from my schooling it is called a stylistic difference.

Last but not least hold the collar of your tee shirt in your teeth as you jump.

grandevaulter wrote: Demi Payne throws her head to cover the pole and so does Sam Kendricks. it is not recommended, but some great jumpers have had success and from my schooling it is called a stylistic difference.

From my schooling, this is called a FLAW!

There is no scientific reason to throw your head back. In fact, it's counter-productive!

I think if Kendricks could break himself of this habit, he would. There's no advantage to it.

Kirk

Run. Plant. Jump. Stretch. Whip. Extend. Fly. Clear. There is no tuck! THERE IS NO DELAY!

Additionally telling a youngster to simply "practice not throwing your head" is not always an effective way to eradicate bad habits. slow it down, shorten it up and perform many, many repetitions of correct head position.

Kirk wrote: "From my schooling this is called a flaw."

Could you elaborate on the detrimental effects of throwing the head when attempting to co re the pole?

I agree with Kirk. You see far too many kids doing it and all it does is disorient them. My thought is that you need to see your top hand, feet and crossbar. That is hard to do with your head thrown back. As your hips rise toward your hands the shoulders should drop, not the head.Kirk?

sum yung guy wrote:I agree with Kirk. You see far too many kids doing it and all it does is disorient them. My thought is that you need to see your top hand, feet and crossbar. That is hard to do with your head thrown back. As your hips rise toward your hands the shoulders should drop, not the head.Kirk?

Young guy, you may offer the Mohammed a handy que to correct it or agree with Kirk and think your a pole vault genius. Not only does Demi Payne throw her head, she closes her eyes.

sum yung guy wrote:I agree with Kirk. You see far too many kids doing it and all it does is disorient them. My thought is that you need to see your top hand, feet and crossbar. That is hard to do with your head thrown back. As your hips rise toward your hands the shoulders should drop, not the head.Kirk?

Well, I don't actually think that you should focus your eyes/head on ANYTHING. Instead, by doing thousands of reps on the highbar, your head should just naturally stay aligned with your spine (more-or-less). Trying to intentionally do ANYTHING with the head distracts the vaulter, I think, from getting the FEEL of the vault. i.e. the kinisthetic sense of body position in the air. Yes, you COULD look at your top hand or feet if you feel you really must have a visual cue, but that's just a crutch.

And you should NOT look at the cross-bar - that usually tends to cause your legs to drop towards it (instead of shooting over it). Your mileage will vary, of course, depending on your PR. So if your PR is under 12-0 or so (and you're gripping higher than 12-0), then it might be OK to look at the crossbar (but don't continue that bad habit when your PR improves).

grandevaulter wrote: Young guy, you may offer the Mohammed a handy que to correct it or agree with Kirk and think your a pole vault genius. Not only does Demi Payne throw her head, she closes her eyes.

Grandevaulter, I'm not sure what your point is in mentioning Demi Payne. Compared to Sam Kendricks, her neck flex isn't nearly as extreme. Now closing her eyes - THAT'S extreme! I didn't know that she did THAT!

So what is your point? Are you using her as a good example or a bad example? My opinion is that both Demi and Sam would vault higher if they eliminated these flaws.

Kirk

Run. Plant. Jump. Stretch. Whip. Extend. Fly. Clear. There is no tuck! THERE IS NO DELAY!